JP3427877B2 - Airbag device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an airbag device that protects an occupant with a bag deployed in the event of a vehicle collision.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An air bag device is composed of an inflator provided inside a pad cover, a folded bag and the like, and the bag is provided on the pad cover by introducing gas into the bag when a vehicle collides. tiara
By defeating the inn and deploying to the occupant side, the occupant's kinetic energy is absorbed and the occupant is protected by receiving the occupant with the deployed bag.

In this airbag device, there is a device for inflating the bag from the peripheral portion of the pad cover by making the thickness of the tear line in the central portion of the pad cover thicker than the peripheral portion (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7- 285408).

[0004]

By the way, when the airbag device is not in operation, the bag is stored inside the pad cover in a folded state, and the pad cover is pressed from the outside. Therefore, the tear line provided on the pad cover is required to have some strength. Therefore, it is conceivable to secure the strength by increasing the thickness of the central portion instead of reducing the peripheral portion.

However, when the thickness of the central portion is increased instead of thinning the peripheral portion of the tear line, it takes time to break the tear line and it takes a lot of time to complete the bag deployment.

An object of the present invention is to provide an airbag device capable of surely inflating a bag from the peripheral portion of the pad cover.

[0007]

An air bag system according to a first aspect of the present invention is provided by introducing an inflator which ejects gas when a vehicle collides and a gas which is arranged so as to cover the inflator and ejected from the inflator into the interior. A bag that expands from the folded state, a base plate that is attached with an inflator and moves to the side opposite to the occupant by the expanding force of the bag, a pad cover that is arranged in a state of covering the bag, and has a tear line provided in the peripheral portion, And part of the pad cover is fastened to the base plate.
The base plate as it moves.
Being stretched, the moving force of the base plate becomes a tear line
It is characterized in that it is a movement transmission unit for transmitting .

According to the airbag device of the first aspect, when the bag is expanded by the gas ejected from the inflator at the time of collision of the vehicle, the expanding force causes the base plate to move to the side opposite to the occupant. Along with this, the moving force of the base plate is transmitted to the peripheral portion of the pad cover provided with the tear line via the moving force transmitting portion, so that the tear line at the peripheral portion of the pad cover is broken. Therefore, the bag can be deployed from the peripheral portion of the pad cover.

The airbag device according to claim 2 is
Ribs are provided along the tear line provided on the peripheral portion of the pad cover, and the movement transmission portion is formed on the ribs.
It is what

According to the air bag apparatus of the second aspect, when the bag is expanded by the gas ejected from the inflator at the time of collision of the vehicle, the expanding force causes the base plate to move to the side opposite to the occupant. Along with this, the moving force of the base plate is transmitted to the pad cover via the rib, and the tear line starts to break in the direction along the rib. Therefore, the bag can be deployed from the peripheral portion of the pad cover.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, an airbag device according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 is a plan view of the airbag device 2, FIG. 2 is an end view taken along the line AA of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line D-D of FIG.

In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes a metal base plate 10, which is provided with a substantially square upper surface portion 10a and which extends downward from the peripheral portion of the upper surface portion 10a. The peripheral wall 10
b is formed. Further, an inflator 12 that generates gas when a vehicle collides is attached to the upper surface portion 10a of the base plate 10, and the inflator 1 is also attached.
A bag 14 (see FIG. 6) folded so as to cover the upper side of 2 is attached.

Further, a pad cover 16 is provided so as to cover the inflator 12 and the bag 14. Here, the pad cover 16 includes an upper plate portion 16a that covers a boss portion (not shown) of the steering wheel, and the upper plate portion 1.
6a and a mounting wall portion 16b having a substantially rectangular tubular shape and protruding downward from the back surface of 6a. Here, an H-shaped tear line 18 is provided on the back surface of the upper plate portion 16a.
That is, a horizontal tear line 18a extending in the horizontal direction is provided in the center of the back surface of the upper plate portion 16a, and vertical tear lines extending in the vertical direction are provided on the left and right sides of the back surface of the upper plate portion 16a. 18b is provided.

Also, the mounting wall portion 16b of the pad cover 16
1, the mounting wall portions 16b located above and below in FIG. 1 are provided with elongated holes 16c for fastening the base plate 10 so that the base plate 10 can move in the direction opposite to the occupant, that is, in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. Base plate 10 through elongated hole 16c
Are fastened to the mounting wall portion 16b by rivets 20.

Further, the mounting wall portion 16b of the pad cover 16
Of the mounting wall portion 16b located on the right and left in FIG.
Has a central portion divided by a slit, and the divided central portion constitutes a moving force transmitting portion 16d that transmits the moving force of the base plate 10 to the pad cover 16.

The moving force transmitting portion 16d is provided on the lippet 20.
Is fastened to the peripheral wall 10b of the base plate 10 (see FIG. 4). Further, the mounting wall portions 16b located on both sides of the moving force transmission portion 16d are fastened to the mounting plate member 22 by the lippet 20 (see FIG. 5), and the mounting plate member 22 includes the steering wheel base member 24.
It is fastened with a bolt 26 and a nut 28.

In the airbag device 2 thus constructed, when gas generated from the inflator 12 starts to be injected into the bag 14 due to a collision of the vehicle, the inflator 12 and the base plate 10 receive pressure from the bag 14. The long hole 1 provided in the mounting wall portion 16b of the pad cover 16 in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG.
Move by a length of 6c. Along with this, the base plate 10
Of the pad cover 16 fastened to the moving force transmitting portion 16
2 is pulled in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG.
The moving force of the base plate 10 is transmitted to the outer portion of the vertical tear line 18b of No. 6.

On the other hand, pressure is applied from the bag 14 to the inner side of the vertical tear line 18b of the pad cover 16 in the direction opposite to the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 2. Therefore, as shown in FIG. A break occurs in the vertical tear line 18b near the position where the portion 16d is provided, and the bag 14 begins to expand from this portion, and the break extends in the extending direction of the vertical tear line 18b and the horizontal tear line 18a. Also extends.

Therefore, according to the airbag device 2 according to the first embodiment, the bag 14 is deployed from both ends of the pad cover 16, that is, the peripheral edge portion.
Is laterally expanded, and the occupant can be reliably restrained by the deployed bag 14.

In the airbag device 2 according to the first embodiment, the back surface of the pad cover 16 has an H mark.
Although the character-shaped tear line 18 is provided, an I-shaped tear line 30 may be provided as shown in FIG. 7. In this case, the moving force transmitting portion 16d that transmits the moving force of the base plate 10 to the pad cover 16
Is provided along the horizontal tear line 30b near a position where a vertical tear line 30a extending in the vertical direction on the back surface of the pad cover 16 and a horizontal tear line 30b extending in the horizontal direction on the back surface of the pad cover 16 intersect. .

Further, the thickness of the central portion of the lateral tear line 18a constituting the H-shaped tear line 18 provided on the back surface of the pad cover 16 of the airbag device 2 according to the first embodiment. The thickness may be increased and the thickness of the peripheral portion may be decreased. As a result, the bag 14 first deploys from the peripheral edge of the pad cover 16 and then deploys from the outside of the tear line 18a toward the central portion.

Next, an airbag device 4 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The same components as those of the airbag device 2 according to the first embodiment are designated by the same reference symbols as those of the airbag device 2 according to the first embodiment. Detailed description is omitted. Here, FIG. 8 is a plan view of the airbag device 4, and FIG. 9 is an EE of the airbag device 4.
FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view, and FIG. 10 is an F-F of the airbag device 4.
FIG.

As shown in FIG. 8, the airbag device 4 has a tear line 32 on the back surface of the pad cover 16 which is composed of a Y-shaped tear line 32a and a lateral tear line 32b extending in the lateral direction. .

The mounting wall portion 16b of the pad cover 16
Of the mounting wall portion 16b located on the lower side in FIG.
Has a central portion divided by a slit, and the divided central portion constitutes a moving force transmitting portion 16d that transmits the moving force of the base plate 10 to the pad cover 16 (see FIG. 9).

The base plate 10 is provided on the side opposite to the occupant on the front side (left side in FIG. 10) of the mounting wall portions 16b located on both sides of the moving force transmitting portion 16d and the mounting wall portions 16b located on the left and right sides in FIG. That is, a long hole 16c is provided for fastening so as to be rotatable in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 10, and the base plate 10 is fastened to the mounting wall portion 16b by the rivet 20 via the long hole 16c.

The upper side in FIG. 8 (right side in FIG. 10)
The mounting wall portion 16b located at is fastened to the peripheral wall 10b of the base plate 10 by the lippet 20 (see FIGS. 8 and 10). The moving force transmitting portion 16d is fastened to the peripheral wall 10b of the base plate 10 by the lippet 20 (see FIGS. 9 and 10).

In the airbag device 4 thus constructed, when gas generated from the inflator 12 starts to be injected into the bag 14 due to a collision of the vehicle, the inflator 12 and the base plate 10 receive pressure from the bag 14. It rotates in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 10, that is, toward the side opposite to the occupant. That base plate 10, the mounting wall portion 16b located on the upper side (right side in FIG. 10) is rotated around a position which is fastened by rivets 20 in FIG. 8, the mounting wall portion of the front pad cover 16 of the base plate 10 The length of the long hole 16c provided in 16b moves to the side opposite to the occupant.

Accordingly, the moving force transmitting portion 16d of the pad cover 16 fastened to the base plate 10 is shown in FIG.
Is pulled in the direction indicated by the arrow, and the base plate 1 is attached to a portion outside the lateral tear line 32b of the pad cover 16.
A moving force of 0 is transmitted.

On the other hand, since the pressure outward from the bag 14 is applied to the inner portion of the Y-shaped tear line 32a of the pad cover 16, first, the moving force transmitting portion 16d is provided as shown in FIG. A break occurs in the lateral tear line 32b near the position where the break occurs, and the break extends in the extending direction of the lateral tear line 32b and Y
It also extends to the character-shaped tear line 32a.

Therefore, according to the airbag device 4 according to the second embodiment, the bag 14 expands from the front edge of the pad cover 16, so that the bag 14 spreads between the steering wheel and the occupant. The occupant can be reliably restrained by the deployed bag 14.

Incidentally, in the airbag device 2 according to the second embodiment, Y is formed on the back surface of the pad cover 16.
The tier line 32 includes a T-shaped tier line 32a and a lateral tier line 32b extending in the lateral direction, and a tier line configured of a T-shaped tier line and a lateral tier line extending in the lateral direction. May be included.

Further, the thickness of the central portion of the Y-shaped tear line 32a provided on the back surface of the pad cover 16 of the airbag device 4 according to the second embodiment is changed to the tear line of other portions. When the bag 14 is first deployed from the peripheral edge of the pad cover 16 by making the thickness larger than the thickness of the pad cover 16, the bag 14 is deployed from the outside of the tear line 18a toward the center.

Further, as shown in FIG. 12, the moving force transmitting portion 16 of the airbag device 4 according to the second embodiment.
The front side of the mounting wall parts 16b located on both sides of d and the mounting wall parts 16b located on the left and right in FIG. 8 (left side of FIG. 10).
The amount of rotation of the base plate 10 can be increased by making the long hole 16c provided at the long hole 34c long. As a result, the occupant can be received in front of the bag 14, and the restraint of the occupant can be further ensured.

Next, the airbag device 6 according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The same components as those of the airbag device 2 according to the first embodiment are designated by the same reference symbols as those of the airbag device 2 according to the first embodiment. Detailed description is omitted. Here, FIG. 13 is a plan view of the airbag device 6.

In this airbag device 6, a Y-shaped tear line 32a and a lateral tear line 32b provided on the back surface of the pad cover 16 of the airbag device 4 according to the second embodiment intersect. A rib 36 along the tear line 32a is provided in the portion. Here, the rib 36 extends downward along the moving force transmitting portion 16d of the pad cover 16 (see FIG. 14), and is formed integrally with the moving force transmitting portion 16d of the pad cover 16.

In the air bag device 6 thus constructed, when the gas generated from the inflator 12 starts to be injected into the bag 14 due to the collision of the vehicle, the inflator 12 and the base plate 10 receive pressure from the bag 14. It rotates in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 14, that is, toward the side opposite to the occupant.

Accordingly, the moving force transmitting portion 16d of the pad cover 16 fastened to the base plate 10 is shown in FIG.
The rib 36 is pulled in the same direction as the arrow shown in FIG. As a result, first, a portion where the Y-shaped tear line 32a provided with the rib 36 and the lateral tear line 32b intersect is fractured along the rib 36, and this fracture is a direction in which the lateral tear line 32b extends. And the Y-shaped tear line 32a.

Therefore, according to the airbag device 6 according to the third embodiment, the tear line starts to break from the portion where the rib is provided, so that the bag 14 is loaded from the front edge of the pad cover 16. Can be deployed,
The occupant can be surely restrained by the bag 14 that is expanded and deployed between the steering wheel and the occupant.

Next, an airbag device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The same components as those of the airbag device 2 according to the first embodiment are designated by the same reference symbols as those of the airbag device 2 according to the first embodiment. Detailed description is omitted.

In the fourth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 15, the air bag device 6 according to the third embodiment has spokes 38b, 38c, etc. connecting the boss of the steering wheel 38 and the ring 38a. It is fixed to. Further, an engaging portion 40 is provided between the spoke portion 38b and the spoke portion 38c, and the position of the spoke portions 38b and 38c is fixed by the engagement of the engaging portion 40, whereby the bag device 6 and the steering wheel are steered. Wheel 38
The position of is fixed.

In the fourth embodiment, when the gas generated from the inflator 12 starts to be injected into the bag 14 due to the collision of the vehicle, the inflator 12 and the base plate 10 receive the pressure from the bag 14 and the pressure shown in FIG.
It rotates in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG.

Along with this, the peripheral portion 1 of the base plate 10
The lower end 42 of 0b pushes down the end of the spoke 38b. As a result, the engagement of the engagement portion 40 is released, and the spoke portion 38b and the spoke portion 38c are separated. Further, the moving force transmitting portion 16d of the pad cover 16 fastened to the base plate 10 is pulled in the arrow direction shown in FIG. 15, and the rib 36 is also pulled in the same direction. As a result, a portion where the Y-shaped tear line 32a provided with the rib 36 and the lateral tear line 32b intersect is fractured along the rib 36, and this fracture extends in the extending direction of the lateral tear line 32b. It also extends to the Y-shaped tear line 32a (see FIG. 16).

Therefore, according to the air bag system of the fourth embodiment, the tear line starts to break from the rib-provided portion, so that the bag 14 is expanded from the front edge of the pad cover 16. Therefore, the bag 14 can be securely restrained by the bag 14 that is expanded and deployed between the steering wheel and the passenger. In addition, the spoke portion 3 of the steering wheel 38
Since the engagement portion 40 provided on each of 8b and 38c is disengaged, the ring portion 38a of the steering wheel 38 is used when the occupant is received by the deployed bag 14.
The passenger side is pushed down, and the passenger can be received through the bag 14 by the front surface of the ring portion 38a. Therefore, the occupant can be surely restrained.

[0044]

According to the invention described in claim 1, when the bag is deployed at the time of collision of the vehicle, the deploying force causes the base plate to move to the side opposite to the occupant and the tear line provided on the peripheral edge of the pad cover is broken. To do. Therefore, the bag can be deployed from the peripheral portion of the pad cover, and the occupant can be reliably restrained.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the bag is deployed at the time of collision of the vehicle, the deployment force causes the base plate to move to the side opposite to the occupant, and the base plate moves to the rib provided along the tear line. The force is transmitted and the tear line begins to break in the direction along the rib. Therefore, the bag can be deployed from the peripheral portion of the pad cover, and the occupant can be reliably restrained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an airbag device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an AA end view of the airbag device diagram (FIG. 1) according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of the airbag device diagram (FIG. 1) according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC of the airbag device diagram (FIG. 1) according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line D-D of the airbag device diagram (FIG. 1) according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a view for explaining the movement of the base plate of the airbag device diagram according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a modified example of the pad cover of the airbag device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of an airbag device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a partial EE sectional view of the airbag device (FIG. 8) according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line FF of the airbag device (FIG. 9) according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a view for explaining a rotating state of a base plate of the airbag device according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a modified example of the airbag device according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a plan view of an airbag device according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining a rotating state of a base plate of the airbag device according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a vertical cross-sectional view of an airbag device according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a view for explaining a rotating state of a base plate of the airbag device according to the fourth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

2, 4, 6 ... Airbag device, 10 ... Base plate,
Reference numeral 10a ... Top surface portion, 10b ... Peripheral wall, 12 ... Inflator, 14 ... Bag, 16 ... Pad cover, 16a ... Upper plate portion, 16b ... Mounting wall portion, 18 ... Tear line, 18a ...
Horizontal tear line, 18b ... Vertical tear line, 2
0 ... Rivet, 30, 32 ... Tear line, 36 ... Rib, 38 ... Steering wheel, 40 ... Engagement part.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── --Continued from the front page (56) References JP-A-8-40168 (JP, A) JP-A-4-135944 (JP, A) JP-A-7-285408 (JP, A) JP-A-8- 282425 (JP, A) JP 4-166458 (JP, A) JP 8-67226 (JP, A) JP 6-336145 (JP, A) Actual flat 7-11457 (JP, U) 3-120252 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B60R 21/20

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. An inflator which ejects gas when a vehicle collides, a bag which is arranged so as to cover the inflator and which is deployed from a folded state by introducing gas ejected from the inflator into the inside, and the inflator. a base plate which moves in a counter-occupant side by the deployment force of the bag is attached, is placed in a state of covering the bag, comprising: a pad cover having a tear line provided in the peripheral portion, a portion of the pad cover But fastened to the base plate
The base plate moves when the base plate moves.
The base plate is pulled by the rate to increase the moving force of the base plate.
An airbag device comprising a movement transmission unit that transmits the movement to the tear line . 2. A rib is provided along a tear line provided on a peripheral portion of the pad cover, and the movement transmitting portion is formed on the rib.
Airbag device described .